Glucose monitoring device in a protective smartphone case

ABSTRACT

A smartphone protective cover that houses a glucose monitor, test strips, lancets, a lancet striker, a power source, and a biohazard debris receptacle is presented. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective covering is configured to include a smartphone adapted glucose monitor and also to accept a smartphone. In the preferred embodiment, the smartphone is removably placed into the protective covering with the glucose monitor connecting to a data receptacle on the smartphone. The protective further includes a lancet storage compartment adjacent to a lancet striker having a tension control member and striker release button, a test strip storage compartment, and a biohazard debris receptacle. The lancet storage compartment and test strip storage compartment can be re-fillable or disposable. A battery is also located in the cover and is electrically connected to the glucose for monitor, thus enabling the monitor to be powered independently of the phone. A method of use is also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of, claims priority to and thebenefit of, U.S. Ser. No. 13/717,969 filed Dec. 18, 2012 and entitled“GLUCOSE MONITORING DEVICE IN A PROTECTIVE SMARTPHONE CASE,” which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present invention relates to smartphone based glucose monitoringand, more particularly, to a protective cover housing a glucose monitor,testing implements and a power source and a smartphone.

BACKGROUND

Diabetes results from the body's failure to produce insulin (type 1diabetes) or from insulin resistance in which the body fails to properlyuse insulin (type 2 diabetes). Diabetes is a major health concernWorldwide. According to the National Institute of Health, diabetesaffects 25.8 million people of all ages, or 8.3%, of the U.S.population. This represents approximately 18.8 million diagnosed peopleand seven million undiagnosed people. It is the seventh leading cause ofdeath in the United States.

To effectively manage and/or control the disease, diabetics must closelymonitor and manage their blood glucose levels through exercise, diet andmedications in addition to supplying their body with appropriate amountsof insulin based on daily routines. As a result, glucose monitoringsystems have become well known in the medical arts. (Other conditionsbesides diabetes also require monitoring through blood, saliva andurine. Non-limiting examples include low or high hormone levels andhypercholesterolemia.)

Over the years many monitoring systems have been introduced. With thesesystems, a diabetic typically pricks his or her finger using a lancet. Adroplet of exposed blood is applied to a sensor on a test strip which isplaced in a glucose monitoring device. A reading appears on a display ofthe device indicating the blood glucose level of the diabetic.

More recently, advances in technology have led to more sophisticatedmonitoring. For example, continuous glucose monitoring systems have beendeveloped utilizing sensor technologies incorporating both implantableand external sensors. Other systems deliver the preciseness of fingerstick measurements coupled with the convenience of not having torepeatedly prick the skin to obtain glucose measurements.

With the advent of smartphone technology, advances that enable diabeticsto record and store monitoring information are now available. Morerecently, smartphone technology has enabled the user to send recordedinformation to a remote site, such as a physician. These devices work byplugging a monitoring device into a receptacle on the smartphone andthrough a software application receive information from the monitor tothe smartphone. A drawback to this technology is that the monitor cannotbe used with a smartphone in a protective case as the monitor cannot beattached to the phone with the case in place. To use the device, theuser must either not use a smartphone protective cover or must removethe protective cover in order to use the monitor. Additionally, if theuser desires to leave the monitor attached to the phone, no cover can beused, which thereby exposes both the phone and the monitor to a risk ofdamage. Moreover, some of these devices force a user to rely on thepower of the phone to function. This causes unnecessary battery usewhich depletes the power for phone use and, importantly, the monitor,which, in turn, can cause a dangerous situation if blood levels cannotbe tested at critical times.

Additionally, with other devices a user must carry lancets, a “poking”device, and testing strips separately from the device itself. Thus theoverall effect is a bulky package. Moreover, once testing is complete,the user is left with biohazard material debris in the form of a usedlancet and test strip.

There is need, therefore, for a glucose monitoring system for use withsmartphones in which the apparatus provides a protective covering forboth the phone and the monitor and wherein the monitor is poweredseparately from the phone. Further, there is need for a device that alsocontains lancets and test strips within the apparatus and there is areceptacle for medical waste. The present invention provides such adevice in a convenient to use, hand held protective cover.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a protective coverthat houses both a smartphone and a glucose monitor.

It is a further object of the present invention to further provide aself-contained unit wherein lancets and test strips are housed withinthe protective cover.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatuscontaining a lancet striker, or poker.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide aprotective cover that includes a receptacle for debris disposal.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide aprotective cover that includes a power source for the monitor separatefrom that of the smartphone.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide aprotective cover that can be used with any smartphone and smartphoneenabled monitoring device.

SUMMARY

The above objects of the invention are provided for in a novelsmartphone protective cover that further houses a glucose monitor, teststrips, lancets, a lancet striker, a power source, and a biohazarddebris receptacle. According to the invention, the protective coveringis a two-piece device having a top portion and a bottom portion. Thebottom portion contains a smartphone adaptable glucose monitor. Theprotective covering is further sized to accept a smartphone, wherein thesmartphone is reversibly placed into the bottom portion of theprotective covering with the glucose monitor preferably connecting to adata receptacle on the smartphone. In alternate embodiments, the monitormay be a separate unit which is not attached to the smartphone. The topportion of the protective covering is then slid over the smartphone andjoined to the bottom portion.

The protective covering has a back side, the back side further includinga lancet storage compartment adjacent to a lancet striker having atension control member and striker release button, test strip storagecompartment, and a biohazard debris receptacle. The lancet storagecompartment and test strip storage compartment can be re-fillable ordisposable. A battery is also located in the back and is electricallyconnected to the glucose for monitor, thus enabling the monitor to bepowered independently of the phone. In other embodiments, the glucosemonitor may also be powered by the smartphone or an external battery(rechargeable or static).

While the preferred embodiment is directed to a glucose monitor system,other blood constituents which can be measured by a blood sample arecontemplated by the invention.

To use the device, a user removes a test strip from the test stripstorage compartment and places it into the glucose monitor, therebyactivating the monitor. A lancet is then removed from the lancet storagecompartment and placed into the striker chamber. The user then adjustsor reconfirms the striker tension and, when proper tension is chosen,releases the striker by pressing the lancet release button therebycausing the lancet to strike the user's skin causing a blood draw. Bloodis then applied to the test strip and the monitor returns a reading. Thelancet and test strip are then placed in the biohazard debris receptaclefor later disposal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the inventive device wherein a phone ispositioned within the device and further illustrating the glucosemonitor.

FIG. 2 illustrates a back perspective view of the inventive devicewherein the protective cover is shown in two parts with a smartphoneready for insertion.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the bottom portion of the inventive device anda smartphone ready for insertion into the bottom portion.

FIG. 4 is a view of the back of the inventive device showing the lancetstorage compartment, lancet striker, test strip storage compartment,lancet release button, battery compartment, and biohazard materialreceptacle.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the back of the inventive device showingthe lancet storage compartment, lancet striker, test strip storagecompartment, lancet release button, battery compartment, and biohazardmaterial receptacle.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the inventive deviceillustrating the test strip storage compartment, lancet storagecompartment, and biohazard material receptacle as a separates units fromthe protective cover.

FIG. 7 depicts the test strip storage compartment separate from theprotective cover and illustrating attachment system.

FIG. 8 depicts the test strip storage unit with closure open andexposing the test strip storage receptacle.

FIG. 9 depicts the test strip storage unit with closure in the closedposition, securing test strips in the test strip storage receptacle.

FIG. 10 depicts the lancet striker compartment with the closure open anddisplaying a lancet.

FIG. 11 depicts the lancet striker compartment with the closure open anddisplaying a lancet.

FIG. 12 depicts the lancet striker compartment with the closure closedand dial for striker tension adjustment.

FIG. 13 depicts the lancet striker compartment and striker tensionadjustor.

FIG. 14 depicts a top view of the protective cover illustrating theglucose monitor attachment means for connecting to a smartphone.

FIG. 15 illustrates a test strip being put into a glucose monitor slotfor testing.

FIG. 16 illustrates an alternate embodiment wherein an insulin shotcontainer is optionally included in the inventive device depicting agroove along one side of the protective cover.

FIG. 17 illustrates an alternate embodiment wherein an insulin shotcontainer is optionally included in the inventive device depicting thecontainer.

FIG. 18 illustrates an alternate embodiment wherein an insulin shotcompartment is optionally included in the inventive device depicting thecontainer being placed into the groove.

FIG. 19 illustrates an alternate embodiment wherein insulin shotcompartment is optionally included in the inventive device depicting analternate design for the container wherein clasps are used to secure thecontainer to the cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before explaining the preferred embodiment of the present invention indetail, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limitedin its application to the details of arrangements of the components setforth in the following description. As will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the arts, the present invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting. It is also to be understood that where ranges areprovided for various aspects of the invention and for examples, they areapproximate ranges and are not to be limiting except where notedotherwise.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Moreover, the singular forms“a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearlydictates otherwise.

Importantly, while the present invention is described with reference toa glucose monitor, those skilled in the arts will appreciate that theinvention is also applicable to other blood measurable constituentsincluding, but not limited to, cholesterol, low density lipoproteins,very tow density lipoproteins, high density lipoproteins, triglycerides,hemoglobin a1c, C-reactive protein, insulin, human growth hormone,estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, sex hormone binding protein,DHEA-S, thyroid stimulating hormone, T3, T4, thyroid peroxidaseantibody, prostate stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, andfollicle stimulating hormone. The disclosure is meant to encompass theseas well as all other measurable blood constituents. Additionally, othertypes of testing and/or monitors may be used, such as those used fortesting saliva or urine. In those cases, the lancet portion of theinvention would not be employed. Accordingly, whenever the phrase“glucose monitor” is used, it includes all other smartphone adaptabletypes of monitoring devices as well.

It should also be understood that the inventive device may include anyof the features and respective hardware components described, orcombinations thereof, however some features and components may make morepractical sense for one particular use, depending on the particulardesign considerations and intended use, e.g., blood based monitoringversus saliva.

The disclosure uses, for example purposes only, an iPhone (by Apple,Inc., Cupertino, Calif). Those skilled in the arts will quicklyunderstand that the cover may have a variety of shapes depending onparticular design considerations. For example, its general shape will bedictated by the particular model of smartphone, including its overallshape as well as its connection and port placements. The device may beconfigured to allow the user to use and interact with any input elementsand/or graphical displays. In general, however, the cover may be formfitted to a slim rectangular design.

The present disclosure provides an inventive smartphone protective cover(hereinafter also referred to as “cover”) comprising a bottom portionand a top portion. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom portionfurther comprises a glucose monitor (or “tester”). The glucose monitorpreferably removably attaches to the data/power port of the smartphone,thereby enabling it to transmit test data to the phone and, from there,either store it or transmit it to a remote location for review orstorage. Alternatively, the glucose monitor may be an independent unitthat does not attach to the smartphone. In that instance, the glucosemonitor is positioned into the bottom portion before cover use. The topportion of the cover is configured to reversibly join the bottom portionat a physical interface. In yet another embodiment, a user may wish tocarry a monitor separate from the inventive device, in which case theinventive device is configured to have no space for a monitor but insideis configured to carry the other features of the inventive device.

The cover is sized and shaped to fit one or more external dimensions ofa smartphone, while providing access to one or more features of thesmartphone, e.g., input units, displays, speakers, microphones,headphone jacks, cameras, communication ports, etc. For example, a covermay be configured to cover greater than greater than 50%, greater than60%, greater than 70%, greater than 80% or greater than 90% of theexposed surface of a smartphone, depending on the design of thesmartphone.

The cover further comprises a back side. The cover back side houses thefurther inventive elements of the invention, including a lancet storagecompartment, a test strip storage compartment, a biohazard materialreceptacle, a lancet striker, a lancet striker tension adjuster, alancet striker release button, and a battery compartment. The lancetstorage compartment, test strip storage compartment, and biohazardreceptacle are removably coupled (throughout, reference to “coupled”means that two modules are currently coupled but are releasably coupled)to the cover back via corresponding recesses located in the cover backadapted to receive each compartment. The Inventors contemplate that thelancet storage compartment, test strip storage compartment, andbiohazard receptacle can be reloaded (or emptied in the case of thebiohazard material receptacle) or disposed of and replaced with freshunits.

The lancet striker further includes a striker lid, lancet chamber withstriker piston, an aperture, and sliding door. The striker lid is ahinged member that, when opened, exposes the striker lancet chamber. Thesliding door, when in an opened position, exposes the aperture, throughwhich the lancet tip extends when released. The lancet striker tensionadjuster enables the user to regulate the amount of force with which thelancet strikes the skin when the striker piston is released byactivating the striker release button.

The biohazard material receptacle is designed to accept used lancets andtest strips for later disposal. The glucose monitor is preferablypowered by a battery; this feature allows the glucose monitor to rununder power independently of the smartphone, thereby saving phone power.The battery is housed in the battery compartment and is electricallyconnected to the glucose monitor. In other embodiments, the glucosemonitor can be powered by the smartphone through a powered connection orthrough an external battery.

Turning to FIG. 1 inventive device protective cover 20 is seen from thefront 22. Cover 20 has a top edge 24, a bottom edge 26, a first side 28,and a second side 30. Cover 20 further comprises two pieces, a topportion 32 and a bottom portion 34. Top portion 32 and a bottom portion34 join together at physical interface 36. Top portion and bottomportion releasably engage with one another to form a single unit atphysical interface 36.

Further, bottom portion 34 houses glucose monitor A (depicted in FIG.14). In the preferred embodiment, the glucose monitor is built-in intothe bottom portion and further includes an opening 35 wherein theglucose monitor menu and result screen 38 is exposed and a menu guideselector 40, the menu guide selector enabling a user to scroll throughthe various options provided by the glucose monitor. Alternatively,bottom portion 34 may not include a built-in glucose monitor and, inthat case, is configured to fit over a separate smartphone enabledglucose monitor. Also seen in FIG. 1 is smartphone B exposed through anopening in the front 22 of cover 20.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the arts, cover 20 can bemade of any material that provides protection to the glucose monitor andsmartphone and is stiff enough to connect and hold top portion 32 andbottom portion 34 securely in place at physical interface 36. Thepreferred embodiment contemplates the use of an ABS plastic but anymaterial that provides protection and can connect the top portion andbottom portion together and retain the compartments (described below) issuitable. For non-limiting example, cover 20 can be made of siliconewith the addition of a hard plastic piece adjacent physical interface 36and compartment connections.

In FIG. 2 cover 20 is seen from a back perspective illustrating cover 20in two parts with smartphone B ready for insertion. As can be seen moreclearly in FIG. 3, smartphone B slides into bottom portion 34 along pathC with smartphone data transmitter/power hookup 72 (FIG. 3) engagingglucose monitor connector E1 (FIG. 14). Returning to FIG. 2, top portion32 is then slid over smartphone B and, as shown in FIG. 1 connects atphysical interface 36 to bottom portion 34.

As depicted in FIG. 2, connector 42 secures the top portion and bottomportion together by releasably snapping top portion and bottom portiontogether with bottom portion with connector receivers in bottom portion(not shown). This connection at physical interface 36 is forillustration purposes only and, as those skilled in the arts willunderstand, there are a number of methods and mechanisms that can securebottom portion 34 and top portion 32 to one another. The onlyrequirement is that the top portion and bottom portion are securely andreversibly connected to one another. In this non-limiting example of aconnection at physical interface 36, to remove top portion 32 frombottom portion 34, the user applies sufficient force to overcomeconnector 42 from being engaged in the connector receivers (not shown)of bottom portion 34, thus releasing top portion 32 from the connectorreceivers of bottom portion 34. Other types of connection at physicalinterface 36 may include, without limitation, a groove and lipconnection or a compression fitting.

Turning to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 cover 20 is seen from cover back 44. Back44 contains compartments that contain the tools required to perform atest, including test strip storage compartment 46, lancet storagecompartment 48, lancet striker 50, biohazard material receptacle 52,striker release 53, and battery compartment 55.

FIG. 6 demonstrates that test strip storage compartment 46, lancetstorage compartment 48, and biohazard material receptacle 52 areseparate units that can be detached from cover 20. The inventors havefound that having separate units enables a user to more easily reloadtest strips and lancets and empty biohazard material. This configurationfurther enables a user to have either multiple compartments forreloading or, alternatively, the compartments may be disposable andmerely replaced when empty (or full in the case of the biohazardmaterial receptacle). However, having separate units is not critical tothe invention; having built-in compartments and containers will alsowork. In the preferred embodiment, which includes separate compartments,each of them slide into receiving recesses 46 a, 48 a and 52 a,respectively to test strip storage compartment 46, lancet storagecompartment 48, and biohazard material receptacle 52.

FIG. 7 provides a closer and representative view as to how each unitrelates to cover 20 by using the test strip compartment for illustrationpurposes. As can be seen, test strip storage compartment 46 is aself-contained unit that slides into place into recess 46 a withprotrusions 54 sliding along protrusion recess 56. Protrusions 54 oftest strip storage compartment 46 are inserted into protrusion recess 56of cover 20. Recesses 56 are shown as grooves which allow protrusions 54to slide, permitting the physical interface of lancet storage test stripcompartment 46 to slide along the physical interface of recess 46 a.When test strip storage compartment 46 is slid completely along thesliding plane of recess 46 a, it “snaps” into a reversibly fixedposition via snap hook 57 at test strip compartment 46 hook receiver 59,thus preventing test strip storage compartment 46 from sliding backwardsand becoming uncoupled. Each of the other units, the lancet storagecompartment 48 and biohazard material receptacle 52, affix and separatein similar fashion. The foregoing compartment coupling explanation isfor illustration purposes only and, as those skilled in the arts willunderstand, there are a number of methods and mechanisms that can securethe compartments, including those explained for use at the physicalinterface of the top portion and the bottom portion as well as magneticor hook and loop material.

Turning to FIG. 8 another view of test strip storage compartment 46 isseen. In this view, test strip receptacle 58 and closure 60 aredepicted. Test strips are load into test strip receptacle 58 and securedinto place with closure 60. FIG. 9 illustrates closure 60 in a closedposition. Closure 60 is preferably a hinged member but as those skilledin the arts will understand, other closing methods can be employed. Fornon-limiting example, a sliding mechanism could be used that performs inmuch the same way as illustrated for test strip storage compartment 46,above.

Turning to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 lancet striker 62 can be seen. Lancetstriker 62 accepts lancets C. To insert lancet C into lancet chamber 64,lancet striker closure 66 is opened by pressing striker closure releasebutton 69 and Lancet C is set into position by retracting striker piston68 via backward pressure on lancet C. Lancet striker closure 66 is thenclosed (FIG. 12). FIG. 13 illustrates tension adjustor 70 which enablesa user to adjust the force that the lancet will strike the skin in orderto draw blood during testing. When lancet release button 53 isactivated, lancet C is thrust forward through aperture 71, therebyenabling it to strike the skin.

Returning to FIG. 6, battery compartment 55 is shown. The batterycompartment houses a battery for supplying power to the glucose monitor.The battery is preferably a watch style, flat battery which iselectrically connected to the glucose monitor (circuitry andbattery/monitor connection not shown). Its circuitry will vary dependingon the style of smartphone and cover configuration. While the preferredembodiment contemplates the use of a watch style battery, other batterytypes may be used as well, including cylindrical and rechargeablebatteries. Further, the glucose monitor could be powered by en externalbattery housed separately or within the monitor itself. Further, theinventors contemplate that the glucose monitor could be powered by thesmartphone via the monitor's connection to the smartphone data/powerport.

In an alternate embodiment, cover 20 will also include a general storagecompartment for holding items, such as insulin shots. In thisembodiment, cover 20 will include a groove 80 along the length of one ofits sides (FIG. 16). As seen in FIG. 17, Container 82 includes a lip 84that is inserted into groove 80 (as depicted in FIG. 18) and slid alongthe length of the groove along path F. Container 82 is a hollow canisterthat can be of any suitable shape, e.g., cylindrical, square,rectangular. It is desirable that container 82 be of a size relative tothe thickness of cover 20 but this is not critical. In yet anotherembodiment, and with reference to FIG. 19, container 82 may have clasps86 that secure the container to cover 20 by friction.

To use the device a user will first put it in functional order. To dothis, a user has the option to load the compartments and place them intothe recesses of the cover before loading a smartphone into the cover orloading the smartphone into the cover and then loading the compartments.There is no preferred order. In the instance where a user loads thesmartphone first, the user slides a smartphone into the bottom portionof the cover 34, engaging the smartphone data transmitter/power hookup72 with glucose monitor A data transmitter/power adaptor E. Theconnection between the glucose monitor and the smartphone enables datacollected by the glucose monitor to be transmitted to the smartphonewhere it can alternatively or collectively be displayed on thesmartphone screen, stored locally in the smartphone, or be transmittedto a remote location for storage or review. Top portion 32 is then slidover smartphone B until connection is made to bottom portion 34 atphysical interface 36. Cover 20 is then in place and serves to protectboth the smartphone and the glucose monitor. The user then loads thecompartments into the recesses of the cover by placing protrusions 54 ofa selected compartment, for example lancet storage compartment 48 intoprotrusion recess of cover and sliding the compartment along thephysical interface of the recess. When the compartment is slidcompletely along the sliding plane of recess, it “snaps” into areversibly fixed position via snap hook 57. Each of the other unitsaffix and separate in similar fashion. To remove a compartment,sufficient pressure is applied to the compartment in a directionopposite to that used when loading the compartment. The compartment maythen be replaced or reloaded as selected by the user.

In the instance where the compartments are loaded first, the processesdescribed above are reversed: the compartments are loaded and then thesmartphone is placed into the cover.

In another embodiment where the glucose monitor is not built into thecover, the user, instead of engaging the smartphone datatransmitter/power hookup with glucose monitor data transmitter/poweradaptor, would place a glucose monitor into the bottom portion of thecover. The user would then slide a smartphone into the bottom portion 34of the cover 20 until such point that it lays adjacent the glucosemonitor. Top portion 32 is then slid over smartphone B until connectionis made to bottom portion 34 at physical interface 36. Cover 20 is thenin place and serves to protect both the smartphone and the glucosemonitor.

To use the inventive device, a user removes a test strip from the teststrip storage compartment and places it into the glucose monitor,thereby activating the glucose monitor. The user then removes a lancetfrom the lancet storage compartment and positions it into lancet strikerchamber of the lancet striker. The user adjusts or reconfirms thestriker tension with tension adjustor and, when proper tension ischosen, presses the lancet release button causing the lancet to strikethe user's skin causing a blood draw. The user then smears the teststrip with blood. A reading is taken, displayed screen 38, and, if sodesired, transmitted to smartphone B where it can be recorded, stored,or sent to a desired location. The glucose monitor may provide a varietyof menus, selections, charts, alarms, reminders, visual indicators, etc.For example, the user may be presented with menus and options, such aswhether to take a measurement reading, to view stored measurementreadings, to store data, to download data, to perform bolus calculationbased on the measurement, etc.

The lancet and test strip are then placed in biohazard materialreceptacle 52.

The foregoing describes the preferred embodiment during operation in useas a glucose monitor. It should be understood that the descriptionapplies equally to other analytes and to other forms of samplesinvolving a blood draw. In the instance where a different type of sampleis used (e.g., saliva), the steps involving the lancet, obviously, wouldnot be required.

Importantly, while the invention has been described with reference tofigures showing the invention in a particular configuration, thoseskilled in the arts will understand that placement of the variousfeatures of the device is not critical. For instance, the striker couldbe placed near top edge 24. Likewise, the location of the variouscompartments can be altered and may be based upon the design of thesmartphone and its ports, speakers, controls, etc.

As will also be understood by those skilled in the arts, the order ofthe steps of the method described above is not critical. The spirit ofthe invention and the method for employing it are found in theindividual features of the invention and their use, not the order inwhich they are used or presented herein.

The preceding merely illustrates the principles of the invention. Itwill be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devisevarious arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shownherein, embody the principles of the invention and are included withinits spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples and conditional languagerecited herein are principally intended to aid the reader inunderstanding the principles of the invention and the conceptscontributed by the inventors to furthering the art, and are to beconstrued as being without limitation to such specifically recitedexamples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein recitingprinciples, aspects, and aspects of the invention as well as specificexamples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural andfunctional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that suchequivalents include both currently known equivalents and equivalentsdeveloped in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform thesame function, regardless of structure. The scope of the presentinvention, therefore, is not intended to be limited to the exemplaryaspects shown and described herein. Rather, the scope and spirit ofpresent invention is embodied by the appended claims.

1. A blood measurable constituent monitoring device comprising: a teststrip storage compartment; a lancet storage compartment; a lancetstriker; a biohazard material receptacle; and a power source, whereinthe device houses a smartphone.
 2. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising a blood measurable constituent monitor.
 3. The device ofclaim 2, the blood measurable constituent monitor further comprising adata port connector for attaching to the smartphone.
 4. The device ofclaim 1 wherein one or more of the test strip storage compartment,lancet storage compartment, and biohazard material receptacle arereversibly coupled to the device.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein thelancet striker further comprises a chamber for holding a lancet, atension adjuster, and a striker release button.
 6. The device of claim 1wherein the power source is a battery.
 7. The device of claim 1 whereinthe power source is the smartphone.
 8. The device of claim 1 furthercomprising a storage container reversibly affixed to the device.
 9. Thedevice of claim 8, the storage container reversibly affixed to thedevice by a groove and lip attachment or a friction fitting.
 10. Asample testing system for use with a smartphone for testing one or morebody fluid components comprising: a body fluid component tester housedwithin a system cover, and at least one storage compartment housedwithin the system cover, wherein the at least one storage compartment isselected singularly or in combination from the group consisting of atest material storage compartment, a lancet storage compartment, and abiohazard material receptacle, wherein the system cover has a firstportion and a second portion that reversibly affix to one another at aphysical interface, and wherein the system cover is configured toreversibly accept a smartphone between the first portion and the secondportion when affixed to one another at the physical interface.
 11. Thetesting system of claim 10 further comprising a lancet striker housedwithin the system cover.
 12. The testing system of claim 11, the lancetstriker further comprising a chamber for holding a lancet, a tensionadjuster, and a striker release button.
 13. The testing system of claim10 further comprising a power source housed within the system cover. 14.The testing system of claim 13 wherein the power source is thesmartphone.
 15. The testing system of claim 10, the body fluid componenttester further comprising a data port connector for attaching to thesmartphone.
 16. The testing system of claim 10 wherein at least onestorage compartment is reversibly coupled to the system cover.
 17. Thetesting system of claim 10 further comprising a storage containeradapted to reversibly affix to the system cover.
 18. The testing systemof claim 17, the storage container reversibly affixed to the systemcover by a groove and lip attachment or a friction fitting.
 19. Thetesting system of claim 10 wherein the tester can measure, eithersingularly or in combination, body fluid components selected from thegroup consisting of blood sugar, cholesterol, low density lipoproteins,very low density lipoproteins, high density lipoproteins, triglycerides,hemoglobin a1 c, C reactive protein, insulin, human growth hormone,estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, sex hormone binding protein,DHEA-S, thyroid stimulating hormone, T3, T4, thyroid peroxidaseantibody, prostate stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, andfollicle stimulating hormone.
 20. A body fluid monitoring system for usewith a smartphone comprising: a protective cover comprising a firstportion and a second portion, the second portion configured to house abody fluid monitor, wherein the first portion and second portionreversibly couple to one another at a physical interface to secure asmartphone between the first portion and second portion, and wherein theprotective cover further comprises a test strip storage compartment, abiohazard material receptacle, and a power source.